Australian journalist and filmmaker Tony Jones is entering a new phase of his career—one shaped less by live television and more by documentary storytelling. At 69, the former Q+A host is examining difficult questions about how humans treat animals through his new documentary, Sentient.
From Journalism to Documentary Filmmaking
Jones has spent decades working in Australian and international journalism, but Sentient has given him an opportunity to explore a subject from a different perspective.
The documentary began taking shape after Jones and his wife, ABC 7.30 presenter Sarah Ferguson, moved to Washington DC. Their plans had originally involved Beijing, where Ferguson was expected to work as the ABC’s China bureau chief, but changing political circumstances altered those plans. Instead, the couple found themselves in the United States, where they also covered the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
Jones eventually turned his attention toward animal testing, developing what became Sentient.
“Very Far From Being an Activist”
Despite the documentary’s subject matter, Jones is careful not to describe himself as an activist.
He says he wants viewers to make their own decisions about whether animal testing should continue and whether greater efforts should be made to develop alternatives. That approach reflects his background as a journalist, where presenting competing perspectives can be more important than telling audiences what conclusion to reach.
The project was influenced in part by ethicist Peter Singer, whom Jones encountered during his years presenting Q+A. Singer’s arguments about the way society treats animals prompted Jones to think more deeply about the subject.
Exploring the Reality of Animal Testing
Sentient focuses particularly on macaques and the international supply chain that moves animals from the wild into laboratory environments.
The film examines the capture and transportation of primates as well as their lives in research facilities. At the same time, it acknowledges the arguments made in favour of animal research, including medical breakthroughs involving vaccines and treatments.
One statistic highlighted by the documentary is that 95% of drugs that successfully pass animal testing ultimately fail in human trials. Jones sees that disparity as an argument for developing research methods that can produce more reliable results for humans.
Empathy Is Central to the Film
For Jones, the documentary is ultimately about empathy.
He says that empathy toward animals—and toward the people involved in animal research—helped guide the filmmaking process. Rather than relying solely on graphic imagery, the documentary aims to make audiences think about the ethical questions surrounding the practice.
Jones also acknowledges that making the film has affected his own perspective. He still eats meat, but less than he once did, describing himself as being in a period of questioning rather than having reached a final conclusion.
A Marriage That Blends Work and Family
Jones’ professional journey is closely connected to his wife, Sarah Ferguson. The pair met while working in journalism in Paris in the early 1990s and have now been married for around three decades.
They have also collaborated professionally, including on Sentient, with Ferguson serving as executive producer. Jones describes their ability to work together as remarkably easy, although he acknowledges that disagreements can arise when deciding how a story should develop.
The couple have three adult sons: Felix, Cosmo and Lucien.
Still a “Work in Progress”
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Jones’ latest chapter is his willingness to admit that he has not reached all the answers.
